CAIR Video: N.C. Mosque Seeks FBI Help After Vandalism Video

DURHAM National Islamic leaders want a federal probe into the recent vandalism of a Durham mosque after the third recent incident at the Masjid Ibad ar-Rahman on Fayetteville Street.

Amr Dabour, the imam at Durham's largest mosque, says since the building has been on Fayetteville Street, he has never experienced such blatant disregard for the sanctity of the mosque as he did on Nov. 2 when thieves broke in.

"Not only these doors were completely broken, but I guess six or seven doors inside the building, almost all of the rooms and offices," Dabour said. "We have been feeling OK, no problem at all for years, but this was really very strange."

After local mosque leaders filed a police report with Durham authorities, the Council on American-Islamic Relations based in Washington, D.C., sought the help of federal officials.

"We've also contacted the FBI to see what they can do with the incident," Ibrahim Hooper, of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said.

The civil rights and advocacy group says they fear Muslims in recent headlines prompted the incident.

The police had already warned the mosque about potential backlash because of the recent terror arrests, Hooper said. "We believe that law enforcement authorities should investigate the incident with the possibility of a bias motive in mind."

Anyone with information that may help police solve the case can contact Durham Crime Stoppers at (919) 683-1200.